History Music / VladimirVysotsky

Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky (1938 to 1980) was a Soviet singer, poet, and actor, or "bard" (often considered the greatest of the Soviet bards). He started out acting in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' and ''Life of Galileo'', but soon fell out of official favor due to the material in his songs. While the Soviet government encouraged positivism in music, Vysotsky preferred to sing about the harsh realities of life, always strumming his seven-string guitar. Several of his songs appeared in movies, and throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s he was popular underground. He died in 1980 of heart failure brought on by drug abuse, and over a million people lined the streets of Moscow at his funeral. He has been compared to Creator/AlexanderPushkin, Music/BobDylan, and Music/JacquesBrel.

* AbilityOverAppearance: He was chosen to play the black main character in ''How Tzar Peter the Great Married Off His Moor''. Even though the director had the permission to go abroad in search of a black actor if necessary, he decided that Vysotsky was the only one perfect for the part. Judging by the response to the film, the critics and viewers agree.

* MP3 Kollektsiya: Vladimir Vysotsky [SoLyd Records]

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: He was popular among all classes. Refined intellectuals liked him for his talant and cleverness. Working class liked him for his masculinity and brutal honesty. Career criminals liked him because he composed many criminal underworld songs (alongside more refined stuff though songs by Vysotsky rose above that genre). He was also loved by communist and KGB apparatchiks, of course.

* ''Film/TheIntervention'' (1969)

* ''Film/TheIntervention1968'' (1969)

* ''The Intervention'' (1969)

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: "Agent 007" song is ''very'' loosely based on SeanConnery's visit to Soviet Union in 1969.

* {{Badass}}: "[[http://www.wysotsky.com/1033.htm?714 Sharpshooter]]" and "Five Hundred."

* BadAss: [[http://www.wysotsky.com/1033.htm?714 Sharpshooter]], "Five Hundred"
* BadAssCrew: [[http://www.wysotsky.com/1033.htm?545 Black Jackets]], "Horizont shines as daggers blade..."
* BadAssCreed: "Black Gold", "Penal Battalions"

* ''TheMeetingPlaceCannotBeChanged'' (1979)

Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky (1938 to 1980) was a Soviet singer, poet, and actor, or "bard" (often considered the greatest of the Soviet bards). He started out acting in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' and ''Life of Galileo'', but soon fell out of official favor due to the material in his songs. While the Soviet government encouraged positivism in music, Vysotsky preferred to sing about the harsh realities of life, always strumming his seven-string guitar. Several of his songs appeared in movies, and throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s he was popular underground. He died in 1980 of heart failure brought on by drug abuse, and over a million people lined the streets of Moscow at his funeral. He has been compared to Creator/AlexanderPushkin, BobDylan, and JacquesBrel.

Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky (1938 to 1980) was a Soviet singer, poet, and actor, or "bard." He started out acting in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' and ''Life of Galileo'', but soon fell out of official favor due to the material in his songs. While the Soviet government encouraged positivism in music, Vysotsky preferred to sing about the harsh realities of life, always strumming his seven-string guitar. Several of his songs appeared in movies, and throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s he was popular underground. He died in 1980 of heart failure brought on by drug abuse, and over a million people lined the streets of Moscow at his funeral. He has been compared to Creator/AlexanderPushkin, BobDylan, and JacquesBrel.

* HilariousInHindsight: In the "Masquerade Ball" song (1963), character's wife compares herself to French actress Marina Vlady. In 1969, Vysotsky got married to real Marina Vlady.

* MemeticMutation: A lot, since his songs (and movie roles) are quite quotable:
-->[[http://andreizemskov.livejournal.com/74618.html?thread=585338#t585338 Giraffe is big, and he knows best.]]
-->[[https://sites.google.com/site/poetryandtranslations/vladimir-vysotsky/parting-with-mountains The one thing that is better than heights, is the height that I haven’t yet reached!]]
-->[[https://sites.google.com/site/poetryandtranslations/vladimir-vysotsky/song-about-a-friend Not a friend, not a foe, - just so]]
-->"If you don't reply, we'll write to Sports-Lotto"
-->"We have few real psychotics, so there's no one to lead us."
-->"[[TheMeetingPlaceCannotBeChanged A thief must be jailed!]]"

* SignatureSong: "Song About a Friend"

* TearJerker: "He hasn’t returned from the battle", "Wooden Suits", "The Ballad of Departing for Heaven"

* GrowingTheBeard: Somewhere in the early 70th his songs become much more serious and philosophical (and funny songs become much more funny).
* KavorkaMan: Was a huge sex symbol despite (thanks to?) his brutal looks and trademark raspy voice.

* RuleOfSeanConnery

Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky (1938 to 1980) was a Soviet singer, poet, and actor, or "bard." He started out acting in ''{{Hamlet}}'' and ''LifeOfGalileo'', but soon fell out of official favor due to the material in his songs. While the Soviet government encouraged positivism in music, Vysotsky preferred to sing about the harsh realities of life, always strumming his seven-string guitar. Several of his songs appeared in movies, and throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s he was popular underground. He died in 1980 of heart failure brought on by drug abuse, and over a million people lined the streets of Moscow at his funeral. He has been compared to AlexanderPushkin, BobDylan, and JacquesBrel.

* KavorkaMan: Was a huge sex symbol despite (thanks to?) his brutal looks and trademark [[AudioErotica raspy voice]].

* MurderBallad